 August 2012 |
Greetings, Once again we faced tough decisions in putting together our budget. But for the upcoming 2012-13 fiscal year, we were able to slash spending while crafting a blueprint that maintains vital services to our residents without raising taxes.
The total budget will be $3.1 billion. That is about $350 million less than the current $3.5 billion budget. This new budget has been unanimously approved by Orange County's Board of County Commissioners, but still must undergo two more public hearings in September.
My goal is to ensure that Orange County is the most fiscally responsible local government in Florida. That is why we did not respond to plunging property values and government revenues by raising taxes. Instead we shrunk the size of government through efficiency and innovative thinking.
Unlike other cities and counties, you have not read about a budget crisis in Orange. Nor have you experienced a noticeable decline in services. I am proud of this budget and proud of our ability to live within our means by working smarter and harder. I encourage you to read the proposed budget document for a more detailed look at the spending plan.
As always, I thank you for your continued support and for staying connected with your government.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jacobs
Orange County Mayor
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Leadership Mission to Austin Provides Opportunity to Learn Economic Best Practices
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I recently returned from a short Leadership Mission to Austin that was organized by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC).
Just as Orange County's primary industry once was cattle and citrus, Austin once was known for cattle and oil. And then the region committed to a vision that diversified its economy by making Austin a technology hub.
Austin sold its new image with campaigns, such as "Keep Austin Weird" and "Home of the Happiest Geeks in America."
We are proud to be the Tourism Capitol of the World. But we need to diversify our economy. And to do that we have to expand our brand to highlight our flourishing new industries.
Visit Orlando, the EDC and our county and city partners are working on a blueprint that refines and reinvents our evolving brand as the high-tech, life science and business corridor of the Southeast.
Learning about Austin's experiences and successes only will help us as we move forward. I see limitless possibilities for converging our manufacturing, high-tech, life sciences, and medical research industries.
I look forward to working with other Central Florida leaders as we improve Florida's burgeoning economic landscape.
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A Special Thanks to Our Summer of Service Volunteers | |
I wish to thank my staff and the volunteers who supported my Summer of Service initiative, a month-long project featuring a variety of events that promoted volunteerism and community service throughout Orange County.
These opportunities covered a wide range of activities with the goal of encouraging volunteerism and the development of a lifestyle of service.
From June 16 through July 14, 2012, dozens of Orange County residents made a commitment to volunteer on at least one occasion in service to our community. We hope to see this initiative grow next summer.
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Orange County Cleanup a Priority
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Yes, that is me with the chainsaw. And don't think I don't know how to use it! In July, my staff and I helped clean up a portion of Orange County's Cady Way Trail. We worked at the Crane Strand Canal, just south of Aloma Avenue.
 | (Lt.-rt.) My Chief of Staff Graciela Noriega Jacoby, Equipment Operator Dan Garramone, Public Works Coordinator Jeff Charles, Foreman Mark Herrmann, Equipment Operator Oneal Weathers, Equipment Operator Maurice Haywood and Sergeant Mike Crabb.
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The Cady Way Trail runs from the Fashion Square Mall area to Cady Way Park in the community of Winter Park.
By trimming trees and removing underbrush, we helped open up the area, thereby improving visibility and safety for trail users.
Hats off to Orange County's Public Works Division for organizing the cleanup and for working with my staff on this important project for Orange County.
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Community Champions Honored for Outstanding Service
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Shannon Currie (center) was chosen by District 6 Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell for her selfless dedication to the Pine Hills community. |
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At the 18th Annual Orange County Community Conference, seven citizens were recognized for their invaluable contributions to our local neighborhoods.
The 2012 Citizens of the Year awards recognize individuals who, either through their professional or volunteer efforts, improve the quality of life in Orange County.
Each of our six district commissioners selected a special individual to recognize for their outstanding community service.
I wish to extend a special thanks to the staff at Orange County's Neighborhood Preservation & Revitalization Division for their hard work in successfully planning the event and awards ceremony at the Renaissance Senior Center.
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New Dr. Phillips Community Park Trail Enhances Eco-tourism in Orange County
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 | Lt-rt.: Jimmy O'Connor form the National Recreation and Park Association; Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd, District 1; Mayor Teresa Jacobs; Paul Livrieri, LongHorn Steakhouse; and Brandon Tidwell, Darden Foundation.
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District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd joined me for the opening of the Dr. Phillips Community Park trail in July. Called the LongHorn Steakhouse Loop Trail, it is just over a half-mile long. The trail includes benches, interpretive signs identifying trees, new plants and an improved path.
The new trail enhances eco-tourism in Central Florida and joins Orange County Parks' nearly 40 miles of trails. They include Cady Way Trail, Little Econ Greenway, West Orange Trail and Lake Apopka Loop Trail.
This wonderful addition to Orange County was made possible by a $15,000 Great American Trails grant awarded by the National Recreation and Park Association and the Darden Foundation.
Since 2007, the Dr. Phillips Community Park has welcomed thousands of visitors who have enjoyed the splash pad, picnic areas, open fields and the community playground.
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Waterford Lakes Small Area Study Begins | |
The Waterford Lakes area is experiencing substantial traffic congestion from increased residential and commercial development. We plan to address this problem.
To begin, we are going to evaluate the overall performance of the areas' roadways and multimodal network in a comprehensive study.
Called the Waterford Lakes Small Area Study, it will be a one-year analysis of area roadways that will result in a prioritized list of recommended improvements.
All property owners within the study area will receive notices of public meetings, which will gather information to assist in the identification of issues for the study. Comments can also be submitted online.
For information on the study, please visit Orange County's website for more details. I look forward to the results of the study and improving the quality of life for residents in East Orange County.
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 | | Governor Scott joined me at the grand opening of Orange County's first Wawa convenience store in July. |
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- A review of Medicaid bills resulted in a $23.7 million write-down of disputed bills for Orange County.
- CNNMoney named Florida one of the nation's 10 most entrepreneurial states.
- Orange County's May resort taxes were 4 percent higher than the same month last year.
- The Orange County Convention Center will host the 104th NAACP Annual Convention in 2013.
- I hope to engage citizens in their local government through a program called The Orange County Experience. To provide feedback on your interests, please join our survey.
- Lake Nona's ultra-fast, high-speed technology infrastructure was highlighted as an example of forward-looking community development at the White House.
- The Orange County Convention Center was named one of the top centres in the world by AIPC, the International Association of Congress Centres!
- TAM, Brazil's national airline and largest airline carrier, will launch daily service from Rio De Janeiro Galećo to Orlando International Airport starting October 29, 2012.
- Urban Land Magazine featured a story on Lake Nona Medical City, touting how our science cluster has boosted economic growth and jobs.
- Orange County's Medical City was also featured in the July issue of Builder magazine.
- USA Today ranked Orange County's City of Orlando a top 10 market for luxury hotels.
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